In formulating a notion of filmic reality; The Reality of Film offers a novel way of understanding our relationship to cinema. It argues that cinema need not be understood in terms of its capacities to refer to; reproduce or represent reality; but should be understood in terms of the kinds of realities it has the ability to create.The Reality of Film investigates filmic reality by way of six key film theorists: Andreacute; Bazin; Christian Metz; Stanley Cavell; Gilles Deleuze; Slavoj iek and Jacques Ranciegrave;re. In doing so; it provides comprehensive introductions to each of these thinkers; while also debunking many myths and misconceptions about them. Along the way; a notion of filmic reality is formed that radically reconfigures our understanding of cinema.This book is essential reading for film scholars; students and philosophers of film; while it will also appeal to graduate students and specialists in other fields.
#2743072 in eBooks 2013-07-29 2013-07-29File Name: B00SSLV19C
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Superb works by an outstanding master artistBy C. CollinsThis book of 102 plates is a grand collection and shows the work of Blake in various stages of completion from rough sketches; to watercolor wash; to etching; to full multi-colored complete watercolors; and to full multi-colored; multi-plate prints. Thus you see impressions and ideas in early stages of execution all the way to fully realized expressive works. For the most part; the works are magnificent. Blake was a fine draftsman and the graphic illustrative qualities of his work are strong. He has somewhat of an academic style in regard to drawing or painting the human body with the male; often nude; drawn with flowing manneristic precision and revealing a hyper-muscular approach to the male body. In other words; his male figures are often nude muscular fellows with flowing expressive movement. Some of the less developed works are exquisite in their early stages; such as the illustration of Virgil; at the request of Beatrice; assisting Dante in his quest for divine wisdom; an image of two figures cradled; protected; by huge flowing trees. Blake loves monsters and he really gets the opportunity to let his imagination go with the many demons and monsters and mythological characters that Virgil and Dante encounter. Whereas Blake can create fragile; pastel; impressions he can also create dark contrasting areas of great dynamism. An image of the lustful dead being swept across the dark indigo night sky is a fantastic image. Any artist would be content to have 10 masterpieces in their artistic career. Blake had hundreds of successful master works. The unfinished works feel very contemporary; such as a watercolor in mauve and yellow ochre where Dante asks Virgil to explain the influence of Fortune on humans. Blake creates an alternate reality for his world of hell; purgatory; and heaven are truly other realities than the lived in reality of life on earth. Blakes drawn diagram of the nine circles of hell puts most contemporary drawings to shame with its subtlety and sketchy graphic qualities. In another watercolor; Dante and Virgil approach the Minotaur and the surface colors are exquisite and the Minotaur has all the power of a Picasso monster. Dante mixes the gods of antiquity into hell. His completed watercolor and ink drawing of Capaneus; unrepentant and defiant; who was struck down by the lightning bolts of Zeus; shows the power of the finished pieces. The finished work of Neptunes son Anteus is absolutely beautiful. Overall the collection is a grand achievement and the images are outstanding. Dante was very concerned about the politics of the Papacy and Tuscany but Blakes images rises above the local to the universal.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good; but a better quality edition would have been niceBy Vincent PoirierThe point to make is not that theres anything bad to say about this collection of William Blakes illustrations for Dantes Divine Comedy; rather its that the quality of this book is nowhere near what it should be.- Its softcover; it should be clothbound hardcover.- The quality of the paper and binding could be much better.- There should be contextual quotations as well as explanations of the plates.- The graphic design; beginning with the cover; is flat and unimaginative.The Folio Society Edition of Dantes work fetches hundreds of dollars; so that level would be too much to expect. But something of the same quality as what Houghton Mifflin Harcourt produced for Randall Munroes "Thing Explainer" would have been perfect.We have to remember its a Dover edition; they publish many books other publishers would forget to consider and there are good things about this edition.+ Blakes illustrations are fascinating and mesmerizing.+ I cant argue with the price.+ Im happy its available at all!Vincent Poirier; Queacute;bec City18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful and Imaginative art -- nice reproduction qualityBy KrazyshamanThis is a beautiful book that really lets you see Blakes creative process: the illustrations range from loose sketches and incomplete paintings; to articulately finished works of art. This book does NOT contain the text of the Divine Comedy; but each plate lists the line numbers it illustrates so one can easily use it while reading Dantes masterpiece. I dont know what the customer who wrote in Italians complaint is (since I dont understand Italian); but I give this book a top recommendation to all lovers of Blakes art.
